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"Return to me with your whole heart." (Joel2:12)
Throughout this grace-filled season of Lent we are called to a change of of heart. God is offering you and me the opportunity to repent, to return to Him.
Even though we know what we need to do, so often we wait for... tomorrow.
For some, tomorrow may never come. So, we better work at it right away without delay, no matter how hard it may be for some.
"Return to me with your whole heart."
A stranger rolled a flat tire into a service station for repair. The station manager dropped everything and cheerfully began. When he finished, the stranger asked: What do I owe you for such prompt and cheerful service? The manager said, "There is no cost! I'm just glad I could help you." The stranger paused and said, "Do you mind telling me why you've done this so cheerfully for someone you'll probably never see again?" The manager replied "Well, yesterday, I woke up with a toothache and I treated a lot of good people in a shameful way. Today, I'm trying to make up for the evil I did to all those people yesterday."
How is that story a good illustration of what Lent is about?
1) Let us set aside a few extra moments for Prayer, to stay with Jesus and talk to him, with a special Friend so to deepen our friendship with him and follow him more generously and joyfully.
2) Fasting: Let us fast from criticism, and feast on praise... Fast from fear, and feast on faith... Fast from selfishness, and feast on love and service to others... doing something good for others as we make of the world one family.
3) What we save by doing that, let us share it as Almsgiving with someone in need around us... Or with plenty of sisters and brothers of ours overseas, in our missions, who are in need of a helping hand.
Helping the needy is a duty of justice, even before an act of charity. We should never forget that we are not the absolute owners of the goods we possess, but only their administrators. (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)
Let's do all this cheerfully, out of love for Christ!
And we will have a treasure in heaven and peace and joy in our heart and all around us. And our very life will have more meaning.
Blessings and peace,
Fr. Mark Maragone, SX and the Xaverian Missionaries
Read Pope Francis' challenging message for Lent 2017.
Wayne Parish Ministry and Outreach
Fr. Michael Davitti SX is to give a day of recollection/retreat for the San Damiano Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans in Sussex County NJ. The time and date are to be determined. Check on the Provincial page of the our website later this month for updates.
Xavier Knoll
Fr. Alex Rodriguez SX is extraordinarily busy with his duties as Rector at Xavier Knoll in Franklin, WI. He continues with his varied ministries, both English and Spanish, in addition to taking care of all the maintenance of the mission house. He also continues to support the "teenage ministries" of St. Patrick's Parish in Racine and St. Pius X in Wauwatosa, as well as INSPIRO in Pewaukee, WI. On April 1, he is facilitating the RCIA Retreat for St. Paul's Catholic Church in Racine. Given his schedule and responsibilities, he is VERY MUCH looking forward to a vacation to visit his family in California right after Easter.
Fr. Dominic Caldognetto SX has begun celebrating Masses at a "new" St. Mary's - St. Mary's By the Lake in Racine. He finds the congregation very warm and welcoming.
Fr. Aniello Salicone SX very much enjoyed his vacation in Florida. He is jumping right back into his healing ministry here in Franklin, receiving many, many requests for prayers. He will also be participating in a retreat, "God and His Healing Power," March 17 and 18, at Our Sorrowful Mother's ministry in Vandalia, IL.
Fr. Juan José Ciriaco Toribio SX will be con-celebrating the Triduum at St. Patrick's in Elkhorn, where he has been celebrating a number of Spanish-speaking Masses while their pastor has been on sabbatical. He is enjoying this ministry very much.
All of the "Franklin Fathers," will, of course, be very busy with Reconciliation Services throughout the Archdiocese during the upcoming Lenten Season.
Fatima Shrine
ASH WEDNESDAY at FATIMA SHRINE
Ash Wednesday, March 1st there will be three Masses in the Shrine Church with ashes given at each:
7:30 a.m.
12:10 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Stations of the Cross each Friday in Lent in the House Chapel at 7:00 p.m.
Pax Christi Meeting
The Monthly Pax Christi meeting will be on Friday, March 10th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Upper Room at the Office building.
SOUP AND MISSION
March 11th at 6:00 p.m.
The theme is going to be OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE - Mexico and the Xaverian Missionaries. Our presenter will be Fr. Alex Rodriguez Gomez SX.
Interfaith Journey with Mary
Sunday, March 19, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
We will spend the afternoon on the Roman Catholic perspective of Mary and her relevance in our faith and the world today. The presenter will be Sister Virginia Fornasa, Marist Missionary Sister. She will present our Catholic understanding of Mary, but seen through her missionary experience in a rural Indian village in Fiji among Hindus and Muslims as well as Christians. Register
here.
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Social Justice and Human Dignity
A Reflection on the 2017 World Day of Social Justice
Populism increases in a way that is inversely proportional to the fair distribution of resources and takes root more easily when the needs of many are frustrated.
We should not be surprised if many politicians ride the wave of public approval in the name of employment opportunities, avoidance of cultural change, or protection against terrorism.
An ill-concealed fear of using human rights as a criterion of choice and action is clearly visible. It is easy to ride the wave of populism and exploit topics such as racism, xenophobia and misogyny. It is more difficult to seek real solutions.
In such an atmosphere, human rights and social justice pay a heavy price. Scroll down to the English version of Fr. Enzo O. Verzeletti SX's reflection to
learn more.
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Resources
We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
Discover more from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Lenten Care for Creation
Download
the calendar and a
Novena from the Catholic Climate Covenant
Walking the Stations of the Cross Today
Download
this photo journal of Leonardo Boff OFM's words.
Check our
website often for more resources during Lent.
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Travel the world with the Xaverian Missionaries. Learn about "Symphonies of Peace" in Japan and miracles of healing in Bangladesh. Read the loving tribute to Fr. Larry Crosara SX and about the ordination of the first Sierra Leone-born Xaverian Missionary. Discover Global Awareness and catch up on the latest world and USA Province news.
Read it here.
St. Guido Maria Conforti, founder of the Xaverian Missionaries. Our "missionary to the world" became a saint on World Mission Sunday, October 23, 2011. Now there is a mobile friendly version of our website dedicated to him. Learn all about him
here.
Mother Celestina Bottego, founder of the Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary. Read about her
here.
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